• My EVO
    • FAQ
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    evo fitness evolvedevo fitness evolvedevo fitness evolvedevo fitness evolved
    • What is Evo
      • What is Evo
      • Philosophy
      • EVO Manifesto
      • EVOMOVE
      • EVO Academy
    • Training
      • Training
      • Personal Training
    • EVO CLUBS
      • OPENING ON 12.09.2023 – EVO Vienna Bel & Main
      • EVO Vienna Berggasse
      • EVO Vienna Mariahilfer Strasse
      • EVO Vienna Schleifmühlgasse
    • Blog Evo
    • JOIN NOW
    • Free Trial
    EN
    • DE
    ✕

    Master the basics

    19th July 2017
    Bridge the gap

    When learning a new or advanced movement skill, there are often two trains of thought: either we want to learn the skill ‘right now’; or we think we’ll never be able to do it. When we watch athletes and performance artists moving skillfully, we often forget the time, effort, and patience they’ve put into that skill. While it doesn’t look like it, they’ve all put time into learning ‘the basics’ – the fundamental building blocks of the skill. What’s more interesting is that the basic building blocks are universal to all skill.

    Building blocks

    The basics are more than beginner exercises – they’re the essential building blocks for higher level skills. From an early age, we had to master the simple movements of lifting our heads, rolling, sitting, crawling and standing, before we could progress to walking, jumping and running (high level skills).

    Skill is made up of three key building blocks:

    • Strength – the ability to exert force
    • Mobility – the ability to move without restriction
    • Control – the ability to activate and coordinate movement

    Every movement or skill is made up of these building blocks, and no matter how challenging a movement is for you, it can be broken down in this way. The key is to find out your weakest block and focus on it.

    Breaking it down – an example

    Let’s use the handstand as an example – a common movement that many find challenging to fully master. Consider some of the basics:

    • Wrist strength and mobility – often overlooked in handstand training, the wrists need to be mobile and strong enough to support the body
    • Upper body strength – balancing on your hands requires a base level of strength in the shoulders, arms and upper back. Without this strength, your ability to get into position and hold it will always be limited
    • Shoulder control – coordination at the shoulder joint and scapula will allow you to achieve a straight position. Weakness here often manifests in a ‘banana’ shaped handstand because the shoulder cannot fully flex. This also increases the demands of balance.
    • Midline strength and control – keeping a tight midline (core) maintains balance and optimal alignment. Weakness in the core can also create a bent handstand as the back arches

    While the handstand is an advanced skill, the above breakdown can be applied to any level skill.

    Building it up

    Once you break down and understand the basic building blocks of any skill, you can begin to focus on where the deficits or weaknesses are. This is the key to mastery at any level. Building block movements should be practiced as part of a warm up for the main skill, and can even be practiced as a standalone training session away from the actual skill itself.

    Use the EVO app

    The EVO app is a great way to stay motivated with the basics. Don’t be fooled by the ‘Beginner Workouts’ – while the intensity level may be lower, they focus on the building blocks for the advanced workouts. The warm ups are also useful and specific containing many basic movements that will positively impact all movement.

    Whether you’re new to EVO or a seasoned pro, the basics are always important. Make them a regular part of your training to become efficient and injury-free.

     

    Find here our Exercise of the week: V-sit Explosive

    Do you know already know our article What the foot?

    Share
    0

    Recent Posts

    • What is muscle confusion and how can it help you?

      What is muscle confusion and how can it help you?

      26th September 2023
    • How to start running — or restart after a break

      How to start running — or restart after a break

      20th September 2023
    • 3 tips to get back to the gym after a vacation

      3 tips to get back to the gym after a vacation

      30th August 2023
    • The importance of proper hydration in fitness

      The importance of proper hydration in fitness

      23rd August 2023
    • Workout of the week: 20-min upper body workout

      Workout of the week: 20-min upper body workout

      21st August 2023

    EVO AUSTRIA

    Address
    Lifestyle Concept Austria GmbH
    Wehlistraße 66, 5. OG
    1200 Wien

    E-Mail address: [email protected]
    Telephone (Mo.-Fr. 16:00-20:00): +43 676 844644474

    MEMBERS

    • My EVO
    • FAQ
    • Careers
    • Contact Us

    DON’T MISS OUT ON OUR NEWS!

    Subscribe to EVO's Newsletter full of training tips, workout plans, event invitations and interesting offers.

    I agree to the processing and storage of my personal data in order to receive EVO’s communications.

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    © EVO Fitness, All Rights Reserved | Datenschutzerklärung und Cookie-Richtlinie
    EN
    • EN
    • DE
    • My EVO
    • FAQ
    • Careers
    • Contact Us